By Jumbwike Sam
Once upon a time, Busoga Province was a hub of valiant father figures; HE Wilberforce Nadiope, Mathias Ngobi, Shaban Nkuutu, Ali Balunwya, James Mbigiti, James Zikusoka, Cyprian Bamwoze, Dr Luwuliza Kirunda, Col Itabuka, Col Galandi, Col Lukakamwa, Alex Waibale, Patrick Mwanda, Dr Saja Kadama, , Bageya Nsolo, Mulyagonja, Sam Tewungwa, Wanume Kibedhi, Lubogo, Dr David Kazungu and Professor Yoweri Kyesimira, inspirational men who brought Basoga together with a sense of identity and purpose nationally and globally.
After 1986, the NRM regime’s mission of politically empowering marginalized sections of society especially women gained traction in Busoga than anywhere else as the region produced powerful women at supersonic rates.
In came Uganda’s first female Vice President, HE Specioza Naigaga Wandira, the first female Speaker of Parliament Rt Hon Rebecca Alitwaala Kadaga, the first female Secretary General of NRM Party Justine Lumumba, the first female Coordinator of the Office of the National Chairman, Hon Babalanda Milly, the first female Minister of Agriculture Victoria Balyejusa Ssekitoleeko, the first female Minister of Transport Eng Monica Azuba, the first presidential advisor on Busoga, Maureen Kyalya, and many others who were not the first but held influential dockets like Hon Namuganza Persis at Ministry of Lands and later Urban Planning, Hon Nabugere Flavia at Ministry of Water and Environment, Hon Esther Mbayo at the Ministry of the Presidency, Dorothy Kisaka as Executive Director at KCCA and Senior Presidential Advisor in charge of poverty alleviation in Busoga, Mutyabule Florence.
These major female appointments transposed the power dynamics in the region from the male-centric units and propagated a new wave of female led decision making units in Busoga. Men were gradually relegated to the background as women took the driving seat. What was formerly a region of father figures transitioned into an epicenter of political Maamas.
The political mileage that NRM gained from the maama-hood craze in Busoga is evident from the recurrent victories that the party has enjoyed in presidential elections over the years. All forms of would-be political dissent against President Museveni from within Busoga region have always been suppressed by the mamas, and the internal inter-mama battles have always been managed by the President.
Men in Busoga have found themselves on the losing side in contest that involved the mamas. For example, during the battle for Kyabazinga between Kirunda Kivejinja backed HRH Columbus Wambuzi and the Rebecca Kadaga backed HRH Nadiope Gabula, Hon Kadaga confessed later on of how she had previously refused to exit the president’s seating room until he consented to her wishes. She even went ahead and disclosed how President Museveni’s preferred choice for Kyabazinga was HRH Columbus Wambuzi and not Nadiope, but that she used her efforts to fight the struggle till she won in the end. Such soft hands are never extended to male opponents like Abdu Katuntu or Afunadhuula who ended up being referred to as poisonous mushrooms.
The cultural institution which had been a unifying factor in the past had become a shadow of its former self. The once powerful unifying position of the Kyabazinga had been turned into a pawn by the mamas to maneuver through their political chess games. The Basoga who had once lived as united people were no longer proud of their Busoganess because they lacked a father figure to solidify their cultural identity and provide security against manipulators. Mama contests and fights had yielded a new crop of obscurants who kept distorting and maligning everything and everyone suspected to be against their mamas’ interests.
How the current NRM CEC race has become a blessing in disguise for Busoga region
Riding on her branding as Busoga’s daughter in law in the NRM Central Executive Committee race, Anita Among has indirectly ignited a flame with potential to redeem Busoga from the decades of mama-ship captivity. For the first time, the powerful mamas have found themselves at their weakest point with minimal support from the president who has had to remain neutral. A stern assurance from Busoga’s Premier Dr Muvawala to Hon Kadaga that no one was above Busoga points to a new direction in the region’s power dynamics where the mamas are no longer considered as the ultimate power bases. Events like the Masaza cup have taken place smoothly without the mamas on the sidelines.
The hotly controversial Mulamu vs Maama contest has brought to the fore formerly suppressed leaders like Asuman Basalirwa, Silwanyi Solomon, Bwire Sanon and Muwuma Milton to fill the male void that has been existing. Unlike in past contests where Mamas fought independently, Anita Among has strategically placed her husband Moses Magogo as the father figure in her quest for acceptability. Once again, Busoga is having a club of vibrant men uniting to take charge of the affairs of the region, and irrespective of who wins the NRM CEC slot between AAA and Kadaga, the boat has started sailing away from the island of fatherlessness.
